Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

"I don't have a report for you there. We'll just see how that works out," Reid said.

Westbrook reported for the first day of full-team voluntary OTAs but did not take the field. The Eagles did not say which doctor is checking Westbrook's ankle, or if it is the same ankle that bothered Westbrook for several weeks last season, after he suffered a right high ankle sprain against Pittsburgh in Week 3.

Reid said Westbrook had been working hard, coming back from a left knee arthroscopic cleanup early in the offseason, but he complained to athletic trainer Rick Burkholder last week about his ankle.

"His knee's feeling good," Reid said. "We'll know more as we go on here, I'm sure, in the next couple of days."

Reid said he obviously would prefer that cornerback Sheldon Brown attend the voluntary minicamp, but he said he knew going in that Brown would not be present. Brown is unhappy with his contract and has asked to be traded. Unhappy players often skip voluntary camps.

"If you're not here, you give other people an opportunity to show. I remember Jon Runyan saying that over and over for the last 10 years -- 'I'm not going to miss one snap, because it gives another guy a chance to step in there. I think that's really how our guys think, and really, I think that's the truth. It's an obvious statement, but it's the truth."

The Eagles acquired former New England starting corner Ellis Hobbs on draft weekend, just after Brown asked for a trade.

Reid said RG Stacy Andrews (knee), RG Max Jean-Gilles (ankle) and WR Kevin Curtis (groin) "all did a little today. They got in a few of the 'install' periods and went through a few of the individual periods ... we'll just gradually bring them back," said Reid, who also said TE Matt Schobel (ankle) fits into the same category.

Reid also addressed the hiring of Brian Stewart as a "special assistant on defense," with Sean McDermott running the unit while Jim Johnson is treated for cancer.

"I don't really have a report for you on Jim" other than what has been said previously -- that Johnson is undergoing more chemotherapy, Reid said.

Asked if he is concerned that Johnson won't be able to coach this season, Reid said: "We'll just see how things go down the road here."

EARLIER UPDATE:

Disgruntled cornerback Sheldon Brown was not on the field this afternoon as the Eagles began their first of 8 days of organized team activities for the full squad. Brown was the only player who did not show up. (See more below.)

In other early news from the workout:

* Offensive lineman Stacy Andrews is participating in line drills but not scrimmaging. Andrews, signed as a free agent from the Cincinnati Bengals, had surgery to repair a torn ACL after the season.

* Running back Brian Westbrook, who had an offseason knee procedure, is in attendance but not practicing.

* Wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who did not participate in the post-draft minicamp after a second surgery to deal with a sports hernia, is back on the field and participating.

Andy Reid is scheduled to address the media after practice.

More updates to come ...

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FROM EARLIER:

It will be at least mildly interesting to see whether veteran corner Sheldon Brown, shows up for the 2 weeks of optional workouts that begin today.

Brown is unhappy with his contract and has asked to be traded. Brown attended the mandatory, postdraft minicamp - he could have been fined if he hadn't shown - but often, disaffected players stay away from optional camps.

If Brown doesn't want to attend this time, he cannot be fined, though, of course, the team could factor his absence into the equation when evaluating whether to make Brown or newcomer Ellis Hobbs the starter opposite Asante Samuel.